Jewish students accuse Europe’s biggest youth body of sidelining antisemitism
EUJS says exclusion from anti-racism expert group raises serious questions about who will confront rising antisemitism in Europe
The European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) has publicly accused the European Youth Forum (YFJ) of sidelining Jewish voices after it was excluded from the Forum’s Anti-Racism Expert Group, despite what it says is a sharp rise in antisemitism across Europe.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, EUJS said it was “disappointed” that YFJ had decided not to include a representative from the organisation.
The European Youth Forum is the largest youth umbrella body in Europe, representing more than 100 national youth councils and international youth organisations. It established the Anti-Racism Expert Group earlier this year to strengthen its policies, including a motion on combatting antisemitism, while acknowledging what it called a lack of representation of racial and ethnic-minority voices.
EUJS said it had put forward a candidate whose profile “clearly matched the role and met all stated criteria”, but that the candidate was not selected, with what it described as insufficient justification.
“This raises a legitimate concern about who will address antisemitism in a space where informed dialogue is needed,” the organisation said.
The statement argues that the decision reflects a broader and recurring problem, warning that “decisions excluding Jewish organisations from anti-racist structures, whether at local, grassroots, or EU policy level, reflect a systemic issue”.
EUJS also pointed to a series of earlier actions by the Forum which it says have compounded its concerns, including an antisemitic comment remaining online for more than 24 hours after an urgent removal request, the Board abstaining from supporting the globally accepted definition of antisemitism, and a promised statement for International Holocaust Remembrance Day not being released.
“This is deeply concerning, particularly at a moment when antisemitism is rising across Europe to a level unseen in recent decades,” EUJS said. “Efforts to address racism that exclude Jewish voices risk perpetuating misunderstanding, lack of dialogue, and ignorance of key issues.”
The organisation said it had repeatedly sought clarification from YFJ, but that after more than a month, responses had been “unsatisfactory”.
EUJS said it was therefore compelled to ask publicly how the European Youth Forum and its Expert Group planned to tackle antisemitism.
“When our union leaders are targeted because of their Jewish identity, words alone are empty promises,” the statement concluded, adding that it would continue to demand “accountability and tangible action” against antisemitism.
The Universities Minister, Jacqui Smith, has been contacted for comment.
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